What Is Half and Half? And What’s a Substitute For It?
You've had it in your coffee. You've probably baked with it. But what exactly is half and half?
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By Fraya Berg for Food Network Kitchen
Fraya is a chef and a contributing writer at Food Network.
Perhaps you use it in your coffee. Sometimes, baking recipes call for it. But what is half and half? What is a good substitute for half and half when it’s not in the fridge? Read on to learn more.
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What Is Half and Half?
According to the FDA, half and half is simply a mixture of equal parts whole milk and cream. That’s it. It tastes a bit like heavy cream, but not quite as rich or as thick.
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What Is a Substitute for Half and Half?
Since we now know that half and half is equal parts milk and cream, we can make a substitute by simply mixing together equal parts whole milk and heavy cream.
If you don't happen to have any heavy cream in the fridge, you can stir 2 tablespoons of melted butter into 1 cup of whole milk for an approximation of half and half.
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How Long Does Half and Half Last?
Half and half lasts in the fridge for about a week after you've opened it. For an unopened carton, check the sell-by date on the outside and follow its guidance.
Can You Whip Half and Half?
While you can subsitute half and half in place of heavy cream in a recipe for a custard, you cannot whip half and half like heavy cream. It doesn't have enough fat to hold peaks.
Can you boil half and half?
No: there isn’t enough fat for the mixture to stay homogenized, and you’ll end up with curdles. It’s best to add the half and half as the last ingredient when your soup or sauce is finished. Then heat it gradually to a simmer to ensure that the half and half doesn’t curdle.
Half and Half Recipes
Kang Kim
Fresh clams, bacon, potato - everything you want in a rich and creamy clam chowder where the creamy ingredient is half and half. This recipe uses exactly one pint, no measuring required. So much easier than mixing milk and cream.
Armando Rafael
This isn’t just mac and cheese with sausage, it’s mac and cheese with sausage and peppers. Half and half, cream cheese and cheddar come together to make the creamiest sauce ever.
Teri Lyn Fisher
We call this luscious dessert a cobbler, but the topping is really biscuits dropped over the top before it’s baked. And biscuit is just a not-very-fancy name for shortcake. So this could just as easily be called skillet strawberry shortcake.
Armando Rafael
In truth, adding caramelized onions to just about any savory dish will make it better. Here they’re in a breakfast strata, or as it could be called, a savory bread pudding, since it has all the ingredients a bread pudding would have. Using sourdough bread ensures an even more savory dish.
Andrew Purcell Prop Stylist: Marina Malchin 917 751 2855
Panna Cotta is an Italian chilled dairy dessert that’s always an elegant presentation. It’s not a pudding because it doesn’t have eggs and it isn’t cooked: Panna cotta sets with unflavored gelatin. This recipe combines half and half and buttermilk for creamy-tangy results. The fresh cherry compote is a perfect sweet topping, but you could always improvise with your favorite fruit.
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Who doesn’t love a classic casserole dish you can make ahead, especially when you’re having the entire extended family for a holiday dinner? This green bean casserole is made with only fresh ingredients. (OK, one from a can, because you can’t have green bean casserole without those fried onions.)
Spoon Fork Bacon LLC
These mashed potatoes are elevated with feta, half and half, butter and sour cream. Everything goes in the oven in a casserole so you can have all the burners on the stove free for the rest of your dinner.
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